Golf club head with adjustable vibration-absorbing capacity

ABSTRACT

A golf club head includes a body, a striking plate engaged with the body and including a front side for striking a golf ball and a rear side, at least one vibration-receiving member made of an elastomeric material, and at least one adjusting member. At least one compartment is defined in a rear side of the body and is delimited by the rear side of the striking plate. The vibration-absorbing member is mounted in the compartment and in contact with a portion of the rear side of the striking plate. The adjusting member is adjustably mounted in the compartment to adjust a pressing force exerting on the rear side of the striking plate by the vibration-absorbing member and to adjust a compressed amount of the vibration-absorbing member, thereby effectively absorbing residual vibrations and avoiding loss of momentum.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a golf club head. In particular, thepresent invention relates to a golf club head with adjustablevibration-absorbing capacity.

2. Description of Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,036 discloses a cavity back iron with vibrationdamping material in the cavity. As illustrated in FIG. 1 of thedrawings, the golf club disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,036 comprises ahead 100 including a striking face 101 and a back cavity 102, which issubstantially filled with polyurethane 200 (or damping material). Whenstriking a golf ball with the golf club, the damping material 200 mayabsorb residual vibrations and thus improve gripping comfort.

To improve striking accuracy and direction controllability of the golfball, when the golf ball begins to contact with the striking face 101,the striking face 101 should be rapidly and significantly compressedwhen subjected to a slight striking stress, and the striking face 101should rapidly resume its shape, creating a greater restoring force tobe fed to the golf ball.

The striking face 101 creates a rearward stress during continuousdeformation of the striking face 101, which causes compression of thedamping material 200. Nevertheless, different golfers hit golf ballswith different strengths from different angles. Further, a set of golfclub includes different clubs with different striking effects, such asclubs giving a long shot of a golf ball, clubs allowing the golfer tohit a golf ball out of a sand trap, clubs for putting, clubs withdirection-controlling functions, etc. However, currently available golfclub heads can provide a single predetermined function. Namely, the golfclub heads cannot be adjusted to obtain the proper striking effectaccording to the golfer's need.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a golf club headincluding at least one vibration-absorbing member and at least oneadjusting member for adjusting the pressing force exerting on the rearside of a striking plate of the golf club head by thevibration-absorbing member and for adjusting the compressed amount ofthe vibration-absorbing member, thereby improving gripping comfort,improving striking accuracy, and assuring the overall striking effect.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf club headfor avoiding loss of momentum and assuring the overall striking effect.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a golf club headfor effectively absorbing residual vibrations, thereby improvinggripping comfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a golf club headcomprises a body, a striking plate engaged with the body and including afront side for striking a golf ball and a rear side, at least onevibration-receiving member made of an elastomeric material, and at leastone adjusting member. At least one compartment is defined in a rear sideof the body and is delimited by the rear side of the striking plate. Thevibration-absorbing member is mounted in the compartment and in contactwith a portion of the rear side of the striking plate. The adjustingmember is adjustably mounted in the compartment to adjust a pressingforce exerting on the rear side of the striking plate by thevibration-absorbing member and to adjust a compressed amount of thevibration-absorbing member, thereby effectively absorbing residualvibrations and avoiding loss of momentum.

In an embodiment of the invention, the adjusting member is a screwhaving an outer threading. An inner periphery delimiting the compartmentincludes an inner threading for threadedly engaging with the outerthreading of the screw. The adjusting member may further include a slotfor engaging with a tool for driving the adjusting member.

In another embodiment of the invention, the vibration-absorbing memberis bonded in the compartment. Alternatively, the vibration-absorbingmember is slidably received in the compartment.

Preferably, the compartment and the vibration-absorbing member arelocated in a location opposite to a sweet spot of the striking plate.Alternatively, the compartment and the vibration-absorbing member arelocated in a location opposite to a residual vibration concentratingarea of the striking plate, such as the toe and the heel of the strikingplate.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vibration-absorbing memberincludes a bladder defining a gas chamber. The gas chamber is filledwith at least a gas to provide the vibration-absorbing member withcompressibility. Preferably, the gas chamber in the bladder has apressure not lower than atmosphere. The gas chamber may further containa liquid. The liquid is selected from the group including water, oil,gel-like fluid, non-corrosive water solution, organic solution, mixedsolution, and viscous solution.

In another embodiment of the invention, the vibration-absorbing memberis solid and has compressibility.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the vibration-absorbing memberand the adjusting member are integrally formed with each other.

In an embodiment of the invention, the body is an iron club head bodyincluding a back cavity that exposes the rear side of the strikingplate. The back cavity may be communicated with the compartment.

The elastomeric material of the bladder is selected from the groupincluding rubber, polyurethane, thermoplastic elastomers, andhigh-molecular elastomeric resins. Preferably, the elastomeric materialhas a hardness between Shore A 10 and Shore D 30.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of this invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional golf club head;

FIG. 2 is an exploded rear perspective view of a first embodiment of agolf club head in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the golf club head in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of a second embodiment of the golf club head inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the golf club headin accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the golf club headin accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are now to be describedin detail, in which the like reference numerals denote like elements.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a first embodiment of a golf club head inaccordance with the present invention comprises a body 1, at least onevibration-absorbing member 2 (three in this embodiment), and at leastone adjusting member 3 (three in this embodiment). The body 1 is a bodyfor an iron club head. The body 1 is engaged with a striking plate 11and includes a back cavity 12 and at least one compartment 13 (three inthis embodiment). The body 1 can be engaged with the striking plate 11by welding, brazing, insertion, or screwing. The striking plate 11 has afront side for striking golf balls. Alternatively, the body 1 and thestriking plate 11 can be integrally formed with each other, with thestriking plate 11 being a striking face of the body 1 for striking golfballs.

The back cavity 12 is defined in a rear side of the body 1. The rearside of the striking plate 1 1 is thus exposed. Each compartment 13 isdefined in a lower portion of the rear side of the body 1 and includes arearward-facing opening (not labeled). Each compartment 13 is delimitedby a portion of the rear side of the striking plate 11. Preferably, eachcompartment is delimited by an area of the rear side of the strikingplate 11 that is opposite to the sweet spot or the residual vibrationconcentrating area, such as the heel or toe of the rear side of thestriking plate 11. Further, each compartment 13 is preferablycylindrical and includes an inner threading 131 in an inner peripherydelimiting the compartment 13.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, each vibration-absorbing member 2 isbonded to a perimeter wall delimiting the compartment 13 or slidablyreceived in the associated compartment 13. Preferably, eachvibration-absorbing member 2 is in intimate contact with the associatedportion of the rear side of the striking plate 11.

Each vibration-absorbing member 2 includes a bladder 21 defining a gaschamber 22 therein. The bladder 21 is made of an elastomeric materialsuch as rubber, polyurethane (PU), thermoplastic elastomers, orhigh-molecular elastomeric resins. The elastomeric material preferablyhas a hardness between Shore A 10 and Shore D 30. The gas chamber 22defined in the bladder 21 is sealed, with an appropriate amount of gasbeing filled into the gas chamber 22 to a pressure not less than theatmosphere.

Each adjusting member 3 is preferably a screw with an outer threading 31and a slot 32 for engaging with a screwdriver or the like. The outerthreading 31 of each adjusting member 3 is threadedly engaged with theinner threading 131 of the associated compartment 13. A golfer may use ascrewdriver or other tool to drive adjusting member 3, moving theadjusting member 3 toward or away from the associatedvibration-absorbing member 2, thereby adjusting the pressing forceexerting on the rear side of the striking plate 11 by thevibration-absorbing member 2 and thereby adjusting a compressed amountof the vibration-absorbing member 2.

During hitting of a golf ball by the golf club head, the golf ball comesin contact with the striking plate 11 at the first stage, results inmaximum deformation of the striking plate 11 at the second stage, andleaves the striking plate 11 at the third stage. During each stage ofthe golf ball, the striking plate 11 deforms rearward and creates astress pressing against each vibration-absorbing member 2, resulting incontinuous compression of each vibration-absorbing member 2. The volumeof each vibration-absorbing member 2 changes accordingly.

As mentioned above, an appropriate amount of gas is contained in the gaschamber 22, allowing easy elastic compressive deformation when eachvibration-absorbing member 2 is subjected to a stress. Namely, at thefirst stage of the golf ball mentioned above, the striking plate 11begins to elastically deform and imparts a smaller stress to eachvibration-absorbing member 2, and this stress gradually increases toallow rapid momentary compression of each vibration-absorbing member 2.Thus, the golf club head in accordance with the present invention avoidseach vibration-absorbing member 2 from overpressing against the strikingplate 11 at the first stage, prolonging the contact time between thegolf ball and the striking face 11 while assuring the overall strikingeffect.

At the second stage mentioned above, the striking plate 11 reaches itsmaximum deformation and creates the maximum stress that compresses thegas cushion 2 to the maximum extent. Each vibration-absorbing member 2bears the striking plate 11 and further prolongs the contact timebetween the golf ball and the striking plate 11, further improving thedirection controllability and striking accuracy of the golf ball.

At the third stage mentioned above, the stress from the striking plate11 gradually reduces to zero. In response, the volume of eachvibration-absorbing member 2 rapidly resumes its original value. Thus,after the golf ball has been stricken, although a part of momentum isnot imparted to the golf ball and thus results in residual vibrations ofthe striking plate 11, the vibration-absorbing members 2 in intimatecontact with the rear side of the striking plate 11 effectively absorbthe residual vibrations and thus improve the gripping comfort.

Referring to FIG. 3, as mentioned above, each adjusting member 3 can beturned to adjust the pressing force exerting on the rear side of thestriking plate 11 by the vibration-absorbing member 2 and to adjust thecompressed amount of the vibration-absorbing member 2. Thus, beforehitting a golf ball, if an adjusting member 3 is turned to press againstthe associated vibration-absorbing member 2 to a greater extent, theassociated vibration-absorbing member 2 is pre-loaded with a pre-loadedstress and pre-pressed to a smaller volume. Thus, the associatedvibration-absorbing member 2 presses against the striking plate 11 to agreater extent and thus has a higher vibration-absorbing capacity. Onthe other hand, if the adjusting member 3 is turned to press against theassociated vibration-absorbing member 2 to a smaller extent or to be inloose contact with the associated vibration-absorbing member 2, a largerbuffering space is provided between the associated vibration-absorbingmember 2 and the striking plate 11, or a loose contact is providedbetween the associated vibration-absorbing member 2 and the strikingplate 11. Thus, the associated vibration-absorbing member 2 does notoverpress against the striking plate 11 and thus has a lowervibration-absorbing capacity while assuring the striking effect,prolonging the contact time between the golf ball and the striking plate11, improving the direction controllability, and improving the strikingaccuracy of the golf ball.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the gaschamber 22 may contain an appropriate amount of liquid 23 and anappropriate amount of gas. The liquid 23 may be water, oil, gel-likefluid, non-corrosive water solution, organic solution, mixed solution,or viscous solution. When hitting a golf ball with the body 1, theliquid 23 in the gas chamber 22 provides a damping effect due toviscosity, thereby absorbing the residual vibrations of the body 1.Further, the gas in the gas chamber 22 maintains the compressioncharacteristics of gas for the vibration-absorbing member 2. It is notedthat the back cavity 12 is communicated with the compartments 13,allowing greater deformation of the vibration-absorbing members 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention, wherein eachvibration-absorbing member 2 is solid and slidably received in theassociated compartment 13. As mentioned above, each adjusting member 3can be turned to adjust the pressing force exerting on the rear side ofthe striking plate 11 by the vibration-absorbing member 2 and to adjustthe compressed amount of the vibration-absorbing member 2. Thus, beforehitting a golf ball, if an adjusting member 3 is turned to press againstthe associated vibration-absorbing member 2 to a greater extent, theassociated vibration-absorbing member 2 is pre-loaded with a pre-loadedstress and pre-pressed to a smaller volume. Thus, the associatedvibration-absorbing member 2 presses against the striking plate 11 to agreater extent and thus has a higher vibration-absorbing capacity. Onthe other hand, if the adjusting member 3 is turned to press against theassociated vibration-absorbing member 2 to a smaller extent or to be inloose contact with the associated vibration-absorbing member 2, a largerbuffering space is provided between the associated vibration-absorbingmember 2 and the striking plate 11, or a loose contact is providedbetween the associated vibration-absorbing member 2 and the strikingplate 11. Thus, the associated vibration-absorbing member 2 does notoverpress against the striking plate 11 and thus has a lowervibration-absorbing capacity while assuring the striking effect,prolonging the contact time between the golf ball and the striking plate11, improving the direction controllability, and improving the strikingaccuracy of the golf ball.

FIG. 6 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the invention, wherein eachvibration-absorbing member 2 is integrally formed with the associatedadjusting member 3. Firstly, an adjusting member 3 is formed with metalor non-metal material, and a vibration-absorbing member 2 is integrallyformed on an end of the adjusting member 3 by molding injection.Alternatively, the adjusting member 3 and the vibration-absorbing member2 can be integrally and simultaneously formed with the same material.This simplifies the assembling procedure of the golf club head.

While the principles of this invention have been disclosed in connectionwith specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled inthe art that these descriptions are not-intended to limit the scope ofthe invention, and that any modification and variation without departingthe spirit of the invention is intended to be covered by the scope ofthis invention defined only by the appended claims.

1. A golf club head comprising: a body, a striking plate being engagedwith the body and including a front side for striking a golf ball and arear side, the body including at least one compartment in a rear side ofthe body and being delimited by the rear side of the striking plate; atleast one vibration-receiving member made of an elastomeric material andmounted in said at least one compartment, said at least onevibration-absorbing material being in contact with a portion of the rearside of the striking plate; and at least one adjusting member mounted insaid at least one compartment, said at least one adjusting member beingadjustable to adjust a pressing force exerting on the rear side of thestriking plate by said at least one vibration-absorbing member and toadjust a compressed amount of said at least one vibration-absorbingmember, thereby effectively absorbing residual vibrations and avoidingloss of momentum.
 2. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid at least one adjusting member is a screw having an outer threading,an inner periphery delimiting said at least one compartment including aninner threading for threadedly engaging with the outer threading of thescrew.
 3. The golf club head as claimed in claim 2, wherein said atleast one adjusting member further includes a slot for engaging with atool for driving said at least one adjusting member.
 4. The golf clubhead as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least onevibration-absorbing member is bonded in said at least one compartment.5. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least onevibration-absorbing member is slidably received in said at least onecompartment.
 6. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidat least one compartment and said at least one vibration-absorbingmember are located in a location opposite to a sweet spot of thestriking plate.
 7. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, said atleast one compartment and said at least one vibration-absorbing memberare located in a location opposite to a residual vibration concentratingarea of the striking plate.
 8. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1,wherein said at least one vibration-absorbing member includes a bladderdefining a gas chamber, the gas chamber being filled with at least a gasto provide said at least one vibration-absorbing member withcompressibility.
 9. The golf club head as claimed in claim 8, whereinthe gas chamber in the bladder has a pressure not lower than atmosphere.10. The golf club head as claimed in claim 8, wherein the gas chamberfurther contains a liquid.
 11. The golf club head as claimed in claim10, wherein the liquid is selected from the group including water, oil,gel-like fluid, non-corrosive water solution, organic solution, mixedsolution, and viscous solution.
 12. The golf club head as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said at least one vibration-absorbing member is solidand has compressibility.
 13. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1,wherein said at least one vibration-absorbing member and said at leastone adjusting member are integrally formed with each other.
 14. The golfclub head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is an iron club headbody including a back cavity that exposes the rear side of the strikingplate.
 15. The golf club head as claimed in claim 14, wherein the backcavity is communicated with said at least one compartment.
 16. The golfclub head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material of thebladder is selected from the group including rubber, polyurethane,thermoplastic elastomers, and high-molecular elastomeric resins.
 17. Thegolf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastomeric materialhas a hardness between Shore A 10 and Shore D 30.